Fantasy Week 11 TE Start/Sit: How Should You Handle Trey McBride and David Njoku?

Fantasy Football

November 14, 2023 | 6:35 AM EST

Fantasy Week 11 TE Start/Sit: How Should You Handle Trey McBride and David Njoku?

Fantasy football managers who will be without Kyle Pitts and Taysom Hill this week are going to have to make some tough lineup decisions on who to start or sit at the TE position.

Here are some of my start/sit options at the TE position for Week 11 of NFL action.

Which TEs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?

Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals

Speaking of the Cardinals, the return of Kyler Murray under center immediately benefited Trey McBride, who produced eight receptions for 131 yards on nine targets against the Atlanta Falcons. His 21 fantasy points in PPR formats marks the second time he has hit the 20-point threshold in the last three games.

MORE: Early Start/Sit Decisions QB | RB | WR

If Murray’s one game is an indicator of things to come for the remainder of the 2023 season, then McBride is entering top-10 TE consideration every week moving forward.

Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders

The final Week 10 stat line of Las Vegas Raiders rookie TE Michael Mayer wasn’t exactly spectacular, but he did manage to produce a highlight-reel TD reception to save his fantasy day against the New York Jets.

The Jets struggling offense allowed the Raiders to play the field-position game while feeding the ball to RB Josh Jacobs on 27 occasions in a low-scoring affair to protect rookie QB Aidan O’Connell.

Unfortunately, the Raiders will not have the same fortune of playing small ball against the high-powered Miami Dolphins offense in Week 11. Expect O’Connell to throw the ball a lot in Week 11, which makes Mayer a quality streaming option at the TE position this Sunday.

Which TEs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?

David Njoku, Cleveland Browns

The Browns passing offense is tough to trust right now. Quarterback Deshaun Watson got banged up again on Sunday but managed to battle through it to get the win against the Baltimore Ravens.

If Watson isn’t 100 percent heading into Cleveland’s matchup against the Steelers in Week 11, then I’m not exactly thrilled about his fantasy outlook against a defense that is only giving up an average of 6.7 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends this season.

Which WRs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?

Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs

The Super Bowl LVII rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles features a mostly returning cast of characters. However, there is one new face who could make a big difference for the Chiefs offense in a supporting role … his name is Rashee Rice.

Rice has scored in three of his last six games while seeing his snap percentage increase for five consecutive contests. The Eagles’ defense is giving up the most fantasy points per game to opposing WRs in the NFL through the first 10 weeks of the season. If this turns out to be a high-scoring affair, then Rice should see plenty of work against a struggling secondary.

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers offense returned to form against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, which led to Brandon Aiyuk’s first touchdown since the season opener. Well, Aiyuk could be in for another big day against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary that is allowing an average of 33.5 fantasy points per game.

If the Bucs attempt to speed up Brock Purdy by trying to bring pressure, that will leave Aiyuk isolated against the Tampa Bay corners, who have struggled to slow down receivers all season long. Expect some big plays from Aiyuk and the Niners passing game in this contest.

Tank Dell, Houston Texans

Houston Texans rookie WR Tank Dell has posted career-highs in targets in consecutive weeks. Fortunately for fantasy managers, Dell was able to produce while seeing 25 targets over the last two games. He followed up his 114-yard and two-touchdown performance in Week 9 with six receptions for 56 yards and a score against the Cincinnati Bengals.

MORE: Early Start/Sit Decisions QB | RB | TE

Whether or not Nico Collins returns for Sunday’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, Dell’s role seems to be secure, which means he should be in your starting lineup against Arizona.

Which WRs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?

Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers

After posting fantastic back-to-back outings heading into the Week 10 matchup against the Green Bay Packers, Diontae Johnson had his worst game of the season with just one reception for 17 yards on four targets.

Well, the task won’t get any easier for Johnson in Week 11 when he faces off against the Cleveland Browns defense. Even if the target share jumps back up, the efficiency is unlikely to be there in this specific matchup.

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins’ three-touchdown performance back in Week 8 already feels like an eternity ago. He caught just three passes for 27 yards against a vulnerable Bucs secondary on Sunday.

While the rookie QB Will Levis has plenty of arm talent, he’s still very much a work in progress and will have games where he struggles as he did on Sunday. Those struggles could continue against a Jacksonville defense who were just torched at home.

Which RBs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?

De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins

Fantasy football managers who enjoyed De’Von Achane’s historic production during a three-game stretch earlier this season have likely been eagerly awaiting his potential return to the fantasy lineup in Week 11.

While we don’t have a guarantee at this moment that Achane will be activated for Miami’s Week 11 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders, all reports point towards that being a strong possibility.

If Achane is active, he needs to be in your starting lineup. The Raiders give up an average of 22.2 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, and the Dolphins offense could be subject to a favorable, run-heavy game script if they get out in front against Las Vegas rookie QB Aidan O’Connell.

While many fantasy managers are likely skeptical about Achane’s hot start — he averaged an absurd 12.11 yards per carry through his first 38 rushing attempts of his career — few RBs will give you the type of fantasy ceiling Achane offers your lineup in Week 11.

Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions

Speaking of elite-level upside rookie running backs, the return of the Lions’ David Montgomery did very little to derail the recent fantasy breakout production of rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 10. Gibbs’ 14 carries with Montgomery in the lineup was a season-high, and a very encouraging development for Gibbs came in the form of a pair of one-yard rushing scores.

MORE: Early Start/Sit Decisions TE | QB | WR

Gibbs saw more carries than Montgomery for the first time all year in a game where they were both active, and he still managed to log five targets in the passing game as well. If this type of usage pattern holds for Gibbs, he is certainly in the low-end RB1 conversation in this potent Detroit offense.

Brian Robinson, Washington Commanders

Commanders running back Brian Robinson continues to find the end zone despite his volume in the rushing game trending in the wrong direction. Against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Robinson produced a career-high 119 receiving yards on six receptions, which included a 51-yard catch and rushing score.

Unfortunately, he saw fewer than 10 carries for the third time in the last six games, which makes his fantasy floor a bit difficult to trust. However, that floor should be raised when the Commanders face off against a New York Giants offense that will have to rely on rookie QB Tommy DeVito to sustain drives, which could manufacture a picture-perfect game script for Robinson to see plenty of work on the ground.

Which RBs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?

James Cook, Buffalo Bills

Heading into the Buffalo Bills’ Week 10 Monday Night Football matchup against the Broncos, James Cook’s usage has been heading in the wrong direction, with just six carries for 20 yards against the Bengals last week. The recent addition of veteran RB Leonard Fournette could also negatively impact Cook’s weekly usage if his role ends up being bigger than we expect.

Ultimately, Cook has been effective but not spectacular in his expanded role in this Bills backfield in 2023. Cook’s fantasy ceiling doesn’t feel all that high against a New York Jets defense that held him to 46 yards in the season opener.

Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears

A short week likely prevented a return to the field for Bears starting RB Khalil Herbert in Week 10, but perhaps you should hold off on putting him back into your starting lineup this Sunday when he faces off against the Lions.

Detroit’s defense is only allowing an average of 14.6 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs this season, which is problematic for a running back seeing his first game action in over a month.

Should Cooks Be a Fantasy Waiver Wire Add in Week 11?

Cooks had nine catches for 173 yards and one touchdown in the win against the Giants. Entering the game against New York, Cooks only had 17 catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Yes, you are reading that right. Cooks had more yards on Sunday than he did the entire rest of the season.

When the Cowboys brought Cooks over, it seemed like he would be a perfect fit in Dallas. He has been very successful on some bad teams, and going in as the second or third option on Dallas seemed like a match made in heaven. While it hasn’t been the case yet, is Sunday a sign that things could be turning around?

Now, I am not saying that Cooks is going to put up the same numbers as he did on Sunday, but Cooks is worth making a move on the waiver wire. He has played nine full seasons in the NFL, and he has reached at least 1,000 yards in six of those years. For the majority of his career, he hasn’t played with a quarterback nearly as good as Prescott.

It took Cooks longer than expected to become more involved in the offense, but don’t be surprised at all if he goes on a run to end the season. He is currently 662 yards away from 1,000 with eight games remaining. To get to that number, he would need to average 82.6 yards per game.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

Call me crazy, but I think Cooks is going to make a major run at it. The Cowboys have some very favorable matchups coming up with games against the Carolina Panthers, the Washington Commanders, and the Seattle Seahawks in the next three games.

With the historic run that WR CeeDee Lamb is on, you can bet the Panthers are going to do everything they can to take him out of the game. TE Jake Ferguson has also been very good recently, as he has 36 catches for 354 yards and four touchdowns. Those are two guys that opponents are going to have to focus on.

That should create a lot of 1-on-1 opportunities for Cooks, and he is going to have an advantage over an opponent’s second or third cornerback nearly every single time.

The run for 1,000 yards continues this weekend at Carolina, as Cooks will have another 100-yard day. Cooks has a chance to go on a huge run down the stretch of the season, and now is the time to make your move.

What Happened to A.J. Hawk? Super Bowl-Winning LB Details Gruesome Injury

Lorenzo Reyna

November 14, 2023 | 6:30 AM EST

What Happened to A.J. Hawk? Super Bowl-Winning LB Details Gruesome Injury

Former NFL player-turned-radio-host A.J. Hawk has taken a lot of hits, plus delivered plenty of hits, during a Super Bowl-winning career as an NFL linebacker. Hawk, however, perhaps endured his most gruesome injury yet.

What Happened to A.J. Hawk? Details Emerge on Eye Injury

Hawk, who starred at Ohio State and won Super Bowl XLV with the Green Bay Packers, wore an eye patch with sunglasses in his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show Monday.

MORE: PFN Life — Off-the-Field Content

Here’s the reason: His son nearly took his eye out.

Hawk, who helps co-host the radio show, alongside the former NFL punter, detailed how graphic his injury became, which occurred at his son’s flag football game.

“Straight eye patch put on this morning. I bent down to pick up Axel, and he threw his arm up so fast, his thumb went six inches deep into my eyeball. And his nail chopped off a part of my eye, I guess,” Hawk described.

What did his doctor tell Hawk about how severe the injury was?

“When I went to the doctor, they said a third of your cornea is gone and is a big divet out of there,” Hawk said. “I can’t see. I can barely see anything now. I’m not sure of anything, but it should grow back and be good.”

HOLY SHIT @OfficialAJHawk..

"I was hoping you guys might not notice" 😂#PMSLive pic.twitter.com/WVcXif66rN

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 13, 2023

Hawk Once Revealed Another Gruesome Ailment

This isn’t Hawk’s first brutal injury he’s endured.

As a captain for the Green Bay Packers and veteran tackling machine, Hawk had to use his hands frequently to shed blockers before halting running backs.

But it’s led to mangled fingers. He revealed the state of his fingers back in 2020 while on the same radio show, which led to “disgusting” being overheard in the studio.

Hawk, however, jokingly said that while his fingers became out of place, he still finished the season.

Hawk was the fifth overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft to the Packers and was part of a loaded class that saw Mario Williams, Reggie Bush, Vince Young, and D’Brickshaw Ferguson go ahead of him. Vernon Davis went behind Hawk. Even a future NFL head coach named DeMeco Ryans was a part of that draft class.

Hawk went on to play 11 seasons in the league, nine of which were with the Packers. He surpassed 100 tackles in five seasons, including 121 in his rookie season, which became his personal best. He also snatched three interceptions during that Super Bowl-winning run in 2010.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds: Should CeeDee Lamb Get More Consideration?

NFL Betting

Brian Blewis

November 14, 2023 | 6:30 AM EST

NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds: Should CeeDee Lamb Get More Consideration?

The NFL Offensive Player of the Year race has generally been a two-man race. With Tyreek Hill on pace to become the first receiver in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 receiving yards and Christian McCaffrey leading the league in both rushing yards and total touchdowns, they’re currently the betting co-favorites to win the award at DraftKings Sportsbook at +125.

After Hill and McCaffrey is A.J. Brown, who has started to catch up to Hill in receiving yards after he set an NFL record of six straight games with 125 or more receiving yards.

The gap between Brown (+550) and the next closest player in Offensive Player of the Year odds is Ja’Marr Chase (+1800), but the gap between them isn’t very close. However, one player who should be getting more consideration is CeeDee Lamb (+4500), who just broke an NFL record himself.

NFL Offensive Player of the Year Odds: Should CeeDee Lamb Get More Consideration?

In Sunday’s 49-17 win over the Giants, Lamb had 11 receptions for 151 yards and became the first player in NFL history to catch at least 10 passes for 150 or more yards in three straight games. Currently, he is only 30 yards behind Brown and 101 yards behind Hill for the NFL lead.

MORE: Early NFL Week 11 Predictions and Picks Against the Spread

After his monster Week 10 performance, Lamb saw a huge swing in his Offensive Player of the Year odds at DraftKings, going from +7500 (17th) to +4500 (eighth), but is he still getting undervalued?

While he shouldn’t be in the conversation with Hill, McCaffrey, or even Brown at the moment, the gap is far bigger than it should be, and his odds shouldn’t be significantly longer than the other players ahead of him in Chase, Stefon Diggs, Lamar Jackson, and Jalen Hurts.

There are still eight weeks left in the season, but Lamb is putting up better numbers than Chase and Diggs at the wide receiver position, and a quarterback hasn’t won the award since Patrick Mahomes in 2018.

Furthermore, when looking at Lamb’s Offensive Player of the Year odds at other sportsbooks, there is clearly value in his price at DraftKings. His odds are shorter than +4000 everywhere else and are as low as +2000 at Caesars.

While Lamb won’t continue to have 10+ receptions for 150+ yards every week, there is still plenty of time left this season for him to continue to put up monster numbers. Even with the season Hill is having, you never know how the remaining eight weeks might go, and at +4500, this seems like incredible value.

Our Betting Lines page has the freshest lines and promos to get BANG for your buck. PFN’s FREE Parlay Calculator and Betting Odds Calculator are also available for your betting process! New to sports betting? Check out our guide on How to Bet on the NFL. Visit our Sports Betting Legal Tracker on how to bet legally in the U.S.

Dynasty Fantasy Football Week 11 Report: Buy Low, Sell High Targets Include Dameon Pierce, Calvin Ridley, and Others

Fantasy Football

Ian Valentino

November 14, 2023 | 6:30 AM EST

Dynasty Fantasy Football Week 11 Report: Buy Low, Sell High Targets Include Dameon Pierce, Calvin Ridley, and Others

The fantasy football season is rapidly passing us by. We’re past the halfway mark of the year, which means it’s time to look in the mirror about your season with a critical eye. Dynasty managers especially need to know when to buy or sell.

We’re coming off a week filled with stellar wide receiver play and several backs putting up unexpected numbers. This could drive several transactions in your league.

Dynasty Risers After Week 10

C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

It’s impossible to ignore what C.J. Stroud is doing for the Houston Texans franchise right now. Stroud was a relatively easy evaluation coming out of Ohio State because of his dominant pocket passing traits and accuracy.

However, whether he could consistently replicate the playmaking he showed against Georgia in his final career start or if he was more of a traditional statue in the pocket remained an open question going into his professional career.

Thus far, Stroud has found the balance that will lead him to superstardom. The margin for error is smaller for passers who don’t occasionally break the scheme with their legs, but Stroud is on a torrid pace. Despite a mediocre supporting cast, he’s completed 61.6% of his passes for 2,626 yards, 15 touchdowns, and only two interceptions.

Stroud could be the next Joe Burrow, but without the ACL tear and with more mobility. He should be highly valued in all dynasty leagues.

Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders

This week’s top back in PPR leagues was Brian Robinson Jr. We told you to buy low on Robinson earlier this year because of the terrific volume he sees. Sunday, he rewarded managers with 119 receiving yards on a season-high six receptions, plus 38 rushing yards.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

Robinson now has two No. 1 finishes and five top-18 finishes on the season. He’s been below RB30 just once. Forget that he’s averaging only four yards a carry and focus on the continued workload that Washington has fed him.

There doesn’t seem to be an end to Robinson’s continued ownership of the touches, either. Sure, a new regime next year could add competition, but with QB Sam Howell improving, that’s more of a hypothetical situation.

Dynasty Fallers After Week 10

Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans

Dameon Pierce didn’t play in Week 10, marking the second straight game he’s missed with an ankle injury. Pierce has struggled this year, producing only two top-20 finishes despite getting at least 12 touches in each game. But it’s hard not to punish Pierce when his backup, Devin Singletary, produced an RB3 game against the Bengals.

Singletary had a huge workload, touching the ball 31 times and reaching 161 yards with a touchdown. A solid player in his own right, his production hasn’t been efficient, a sign that Houston’s running game isn’t conducive to sustained success. With Pierce struggling to reach Singletary’s peak, it seems likelier than not that Houston looks to upgrade the position with a cleaner scheme fit.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Calvin Ridley is a good player capable of producing a top-10 finish for fantasy managers. Unfortunately, in Jacksonville’s offense, he’s not the priority who has had the scheme tailored to him. He’s been as likely to land outside of the top 50 receivers in a week than to be within it.

Ridley’s speed is good but not what it once was, so the offense’s desire to use him as a vertical threat is misguided. With no long-term contract in place and the offense clearly needing to add another starter in 2024 anyway, Ridley is a good sell candidate.

Dynasty Buy-Low Trade Targets

Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns

We know Nick Chubb will be back in 2024, and the Browns could add another ball carrier next offseason for more competition, but that doesn’t mean that Jerome Ford will be a non-factor. What we’re seeing from the Browns offense was closer to Cleveland’s vision when they acquired Deshaun Watson.

With their punishing offensive line and Watson looking closer to the elite playmaker he once was, Ford can sustain his production even when Chubb is back.

Ford has seven top-25 finishes this season and has been a better bell-cow back than expected. While he’s not a star, Ford will be a high-end RB2 in an offense that will feed him 10 or more touches this season and next. His explosiveness will be accentuated once Cleveland’s line is healthier.

Coming off an RB21 finish and set to face Pittsburgh, Ford might be available for much less than expected from skeptical managers.

Marquise Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Who would’ve thought Kyler Murray’s return would be bad for Marquise Brown? After Brown was terrific through Week 5, he’s nosedived in all but one of the last five weeks. However, the Cardinals offense is transitioning again, and better games are coming for Brown.

MORE: Fantasy Buy Low, Sell High Week 11

Arizona opted against trading Brown, which hints toward him being extended long-term. A healthier Murray is great news for Brown, and the coming matchups against weak secondaries like those of Houston, Los Angeles (Rams), and Pittsburgh bode well. Buy Brown now for peanuts and reap the rewards.

Dynasty Sell-High Trade Targets

Najee Harris, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Najee Harris had a terrific week, landing as RB8 thanks to 96 total yards and a touchdown. However, the process didn’t match the result, as Harris was second string to Jaylen Warren in Week 10. Harris already has a low value in dynasty leagues, but losing the starting gig to Warren won’t help it.

Look for managers who might be deceived by Harris’ strong last month. He’s finished as RB22 or better in the last four weeks, meaning he’s an actual asset for rosters. You don’t need to sell Harris for less if you’re contending.

However, it’s always best practice to seek the top trade value. Selling on Harris now accomplishes that, and you can rest well knowing that Harris’ future value will never touch where it is now.

Deebo Samuel, WR, San Francisco 49ers

There might not be a better rental trade target than Deebo Samuel, and dynasty managers in it for the long term should be interested in accommodating such a move. Samuel, whose salary bloats next year right when the 49ers will have to pay others, might be entering the final stretch of his San Francisco tenure. After producing a WR16 week, selling now makes sense.

Samuel’s injury history and future make him a bit of a distressed asset, but he’s been productive enough for other managers to overlook the red flags. He’s a lock to start in virtually every lineup when he’s healthy. But I wouldn’t rely too heavily on that continuing, so sell now.

Has Sean Payton Turned Things Around in Denver? Huge Monday Night Football Win Reignites Playoff Hopes

Lorenzo Reyna

November 14, 2023 | 1:06 AM EST

Has Sean Payton Turned Things Around in Denver? Huge Monday Night Football Win Reignites Playoff Hopes

Sean Payton has gone from being ridiculed and criticized to sparking conversations about potentially producing a playoff team out of the Denver Broncos.

Once 1-5 and the recipient of an infamous 70-20 beatdown at the hands of the Miami Dolphins, Payton and the Broncos instead saw a meltdown out of the Buffalo Bills in Denver’s 24-22 win on Monday Night Football.

How Sean Payton and Denver Got the Stunning Win

Payton and his team watched the Bills pull off two late blunders: a defensive pass-interference call set up by a zero-blitz call on third down, and then the Bills having 12 men on the field, negating a missed Wil Lutz field goal.

Lutz hit the walk-off field goal four seconds after the illegal substitution call. In the process, the final points elevated the Broncos to 4-5 — with Payton helping put together the three-game winning streak.

But along with Lutz’s final points and the Bills’ mental errors, Denver forced three more mistakes: two Josh Allen interceptions and a James Cook fumble, the latter coming on the first play of the night. Payton himself acknowledged that was a huge difference.

MORE: Should the Bills Fire Sean McDermott?

“Good win on the road,” Payton began in his postgame presser. “We felt the turnover margin was going to be significant … and it was.”

Payton and Denver got the win in one of the louder venues in the league against a perennial playoff contender.

“I was proud of how we fought and hung in there. Defensively, we did a lot of good things against an explosive team. They’re a tough team to beat here,” Payton said.

Has the Narrative Changed for the Payton Era in Denver?

It wasn’t that long ago when many across the NFL universe began to wonder if the game passed on Payton.

It began with a 17-16 loss to a Las Vegas Raiders team that would eventually fire its head coach Josh McDaniels. Then came an 0-3 start, with the third loss as a stomping at the hands of the Dolphins.

Now, Payton has his team still in the mix in the early playoff picture. Does this mean the narrative has changed on Payton?

ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III gave him a shoutout, saying Payton has been “coaching his tail off.” Even former Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley can’t help but rave about the job Payton has done.

“Sean Payton deserves so much credit right now. Not sure how this season finishes out but he’s done a remarkable job of keeping this team together and playing hard after an awful first six games,” Stokley said on X.

But now, new tests are on the horizon for Payton and the Broncos. For the next three weeks, they have three teams in the playoff hunt on deck — beginning with the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football, followed by the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans. Also looming? A huge interconference showdown on Dec. 17 against the red-hot Detroit Lions.

Minus the now 2-8 New England Patriots, Denver has plenty of aspiring playoff contenders for 2023 remaining on the schedule. Payton and the Broncos will get tested again. But this time, they’ve positioned themselves to join these teams in the hunt for the postseason, and in the process, shedding the nightmare of Miami and going 1-5.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Should the Bills Fire Sean McDermott? Late Game Mishaps Have NFL World Asking

Lorenzo Reyna

November 14, 2023 | 12:30 AM EST

Should the Bills Fire Sean McDermott? Late Game Mishaps Have NFL World Asking

The night began with a slow offensive start for the Buffalo Bills — a growing theme in the past month of the 2023 season.

It ended with a Wil Lutz walk-off field to give the Denver Broncos the 24-22 Monday Night Football road win, which was set up by two defensive penalties on the Bills’ side.

Now, many across the NFL world are wondering if head coach Sean McDermott is sitting on a seat that’s intensifying with heat.

NFL World Calls Out Sean McDermott, Including Believing the Buffalo Bills Should Fire Him

McDermott came to Orchard Park, N.Y., as a defensive whiz from his Carolina Panthers days. The former defensive coordinator came in to reawaken a franchise that had a lengthy playoff drought and reamplify a rabid fanbase that had gone quiet.

In seven seasons, he’s won 71 games and took the Bills to the AFC title game for the first time since their run of conference titles in the early 1990s. But now, his team sits at 5-5, and, as ESPN’s Joe Buck said after the MNF contest, the math for the Bills is starting to get ugly.

MORE: Bills Fans Furious After Lackluster Start on MNF

The NFL world came down hard on McDermott all over social media. What helped set off that chain reaction was when NFL analytics expert Warren Sharp called out the Bills head coach.

“Sean McDermott meddled so much on the offensive side of the ball it’s become an unrecognizable disaster. Then he got [former defensive coordinator] Leslie Frazier to walk. Now he’s calling all-out blitzes on 3rd down when Denver isn’t close to FG range…and leaving 12 men on the field to lose the game,” Sharp posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Bills React to MNF Meltdown

Bills quarterback Josh Allen delivered some notable facial expressions on the night and one of them was with four seconds left after the 12-men-on-the-field call.

Allen ended his night going 15-of-26 in the air but settled for just 177 yards, now his second-lowest output this season. He was also intercepted two times by Fabian Moreau and Justin Simmons. And Allen didn’t mince words about the performance by him and the Bills.

“Um … it sucks. We should’ve never been in that position in the first place. A lot of bad football,” Allen told the Buffalo media.

12-men on the field 😱 pic.twitter.com/z9OYHMh0b7

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) November 14, 2023

But how did McDermott feel after the loss? He acknowledged that the illegal substitution call that set up the winning field goal was “inexcusable.” He even shared how the Bills practiced “two to three times this week” for those moments in switching from a dime look on defense to rushing the field goal block team onto the field.

But McDermott was blunt about the performance.

“It wasn’t good enough. You can’t turn the ball over period. It’s not good enough,” McDermott said. “We’ve got to play better and move the football and score points on a more consistent basis.”

He also gave honesty about the performance of the quarterback he once took seventh overall to help build the Bills around, saying, “I think he’s played well at times and at times he hasn’t. You can’t turn the ball over. We gotta figure that out.”

McDermott, though, has a plethora of things to figure out moving forward. All five Bills losses have been against AFC foes. And the woes that have plagued the team — from slow starts on offense to mental-mistake penalties — surfaced again against a team that was once 1-5 but is now one game behind Buffalo in a crowded wildcard race.

And now, a growing population within the NFL world has begun to see enough of McDermott. In three words, ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark summed up the Bills’ playoff hopes postgame.

“Buffalo is dead.”

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

James Cook Fantasy Value: Is It Time To Trade Away the Bills RB After Week 10?

Fantasy Football

Derek Tate

November 13, 2023 | 11:45 PM EST

James Cook Fantasy Value: Is It Time To Trade Away the Bills RB After Week 10?

Buffalo Bills RB James Cook saw a concerning drop in his usage in the first half of the team’s game against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football in Week 10. Did his fantasy outlook change so drastically that you should consider trading him off of your fantasy football team right now? Let’s take a closer look.

James Cook’s Rest-of-Season Outlook

Cook was already coming off of one of his worst games of the 2023 season against the Cincinnati Bengals with just 20 yards on six carries, which saw him finish with just 7.9 fantasy points in PPR formats in Week 9.

Unfortunately, his first touch of the Week 10 game resulted in a lost fumble, which immediately saw Latavius Murray inserted into the game for the next couple of drives, and he never really looked back. Murray finished with nine carries and three targets, which is his second-highest usage this season.

Cook was efficient when he did get an opportunity to touch the ball, but his ball security — he had a second fumble that fortuitously bounced right back into his arms off the ground — and lack of power in short-yardage situations saw him cede a lot of work to Murray in this contest. However, he finished the night with an impressive stat line of 109 rushing yards on 12 carries while adding another 11 yards on two receptions.

MORE: Yates’ Early Week 11 Fantasy Football RB Rankings

Cook started the season with four straight games with 10+ fantasy points in PPR formats but has posted less than 10 fantasy points in four out of his last six games. During that span, he has seen fewer than 10 carries in a game on two occasions.

In the last six games, Cook has averaged 10.6 carries per game and 2.33 targets per game compared to 14 carries per game and 3.5 targets per game in the first four. That is a 26% drop in usage over the past six weeks when compared to the first four weeks.

Looming in the shadows is Leonard Fournette, who the Bills signed to the practice squad a couple of weeks ago. Fournette has yet to be active for a game since arriving, but as he gets more acclimated to the system it is more and more likely we see the veteran back on the field.

The expanded role of Murray, the presence of Fournette, the inconsistent volume of touches, and the lack of touchdown upside have Cook’s rest of season arrow pointing in the wrong direction. He feels like an RB3 option at the moment, which has to disappoint fantasy managers who started to trust him in their lineups through the first month of the season.

Should You Trade James Cook?

Are you considering trading Cooks? Our PFN Trade Analyzer allows you to find the best trades to make in seconds! It also allows us to see trending searches, and we’ve compiled a few of the most popular below.

Should You Trade Cook for Kyren Williams?

I don’t want to immediately dismiss this question out of respect for Cook as a football player, but this one isn’t close considering Los Angeles Rams RB Kyren Williams is eligible to return to the lineup in just two weeks. Williams is the clear bell-cow back of his backfield in comparison to Cook, who continues to see frustrating usage in the Bills offense. I would trade Cook for Williams in a heartbeat.

Should You Trade Cook for Jerome Ford?

The Cleveland Browns backfield has been frustrating for fantasy managers since Nick Chubb suffered a season-ending injury back in Week 2. Jerome Ford has consistently led the team in carries, but he continues to watch Kareem Hunt score rushing TDs on nearly a weekly basis.

Ford has 37 carries over the last two games and posted a season-high 107 rushing yards against the stout Baltimore Ravens defense last week. I would trade Cook for Ford in fantasy football right now.

Should You Trade Cook for Najee Harris?

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris has finally shown signs of life over the last two games with two straight contests with 15+ carries, 60+ rushing yards, and a score. Unfortunately, he is still stuck in a timeshare with Jaylen Warren in a very pedestrian offense.

Despite not seeing the volume in recent weeks, I will stick with Cook in the more explosive offense with the hope he can reestablish himself as the clear alpha in this backfield for the fantasy playoff stretch.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

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